Record and controversies

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Environmental record

Climate change

As Shimkus was running to head the House Energy and Commerce Committee in November 2010, he publicly stated that the Bible reaffirms his belief that government should not regulate greenhouse gas emissions: "I do believe in the Bible as the final word of God. And I do believe that God said the Earth would not be destroyed by a flood. Now, do I believe in climate change? In my trip to Greenland, the answer is yes. The climate is changing. The question is more about the costs and benefits and trying to spend taxpayer dollars on something that you cannot stop."[2]

In March 2009, Shimkus quoted an exchange between God and Noah in Genesis during a subcommittee hearing on adaptation policies for dealing with climate change. Democrats cited the congressman's remarks once he entered the internal GOP campaign to take charge of the House panel with direct oversight of global warming and other environmental and energy policy issues. Shimkus has said he wants to permanently block the Environmental Protection Agency from regulating greenhouse gas emissions.[2]

In October 2006, Shimkus became swept up in the Mark Foley page scandal. Shimkus served as the head of the Page Committee, which oversees the program by which dozens of teenagers work on Capitol Hill each year assisting in the administrative tasks of Congress. On September 30, 2006, Rep. Mark Foley (R-Fla.) resigned following the public revelation of “over-friendly” emails and sexually suggestive instant message conversations he had with pages. Shimkus was first notified about the emails in late 2005 from the Clerk of the House. Shimkus claimed that at that point he advised Foley to immediately stop contacting the boy, and Foley agreed. Shimkus never informed Rep. Dale Kildee (D-Mich.), the lone Democrat on the Page Committee, about the situation.

Following Foley’s resignation, Shimkus was asked by Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.) to look into the situation regarding Foley.

Bio

Background

Shimkus was born February 21, 1958 in Collinsville, Illinois, was educated at West Point Military Academy at West Point, New York and Southern Illinois University, served in the United States Army, and was a teacher before entering the House in 1996.

Congressional career

Shimkus has announced that he will run for reelection in 2006 and 2008, despite making a pledge not to stay in office for more than 12 years.

Committees: House Committee on Energy and Commerce, House Committee on Energy and Commerce/Subcommittee on Energy and Air Quality, House Committee on Energy and Commerce/Subcommittee on Environment and Hazardous Materials, House Committee on Energy and Commerce/Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet,